Hear at Home - Top Ten

Tuesday, 04 May 2010 16:52

HEAR AT HOME - Top 10

1. MAKE YOUR POINT
When a sound occurs, POINT TO YOUR EAR. The phone ringing, the dog barking, the water running, the TV going on, the car starting, Daddy calling `I’m home!` or Santa ho-ho-hoeing…you POINT TO YOUR EAR.

2. THE YARDSTICK
Your child hears best when you are within three feet or a yardstick from the microphone on their hearing aids.

3. KEEP THE YARDSTICK LEVEL
It is easiest for a new hearing aid user to hear sound that is not only close to them but also is on the same level with their hearing aid.

4. RADIO COMMENTATOR
Parents must be like a radio commentator of their child’s life. Just like the sports announcer on the radio describes every detail of a football game for his listening audience, parents should make short, interesting comments that describe what their child is doing.

5. THE CHEAP HOTEL
When you go to a cheap hotel where the walls are paper thin, you can hear the people in the room next door. And, even though you cant hear the actual sounds or words very well, you still can tell whether they are fighting or making love or casually packing up to leave.
• How? How do we know? We know by the pitch, timing, and volume of their voices.

6. THE 1, 2, 3
1. Say ``Get your shoes.`` (the shoes are in the room but you do not look at them, point to them or offer them). Wait for your child to make a response. If they do nothing…
2. Say ``Get your shoes.`` Then look at the shoes. Wait for your child to make a response. If they do nothing…
3. Say ``Get your shoes.`` Then look and point to the shoes. Help the child get their shoes and repeat over time until your child gets their shoes with you only using 1. With no looks or pointing.

7. 3-RING CIRCUS
For children who are new to listening, one sound to concentrate on is plenty. Trying to listen to mom calling their name while the TV blares and the dishwasher hums and the new baby cries, is a challenge even for a child with typical hearing. So, let’s get rid of the 3-Ring Circus in our home by controlling the background noise that could distract the child and make listening impossible.

8. BORE ME TO DEATH
Children not only learn by repetition, they love it!... That’s what made Dr. Seuss a millionaire!

9. THE BRASS RING
Parents who want to accelerate children’s language growth will gradually begin delaying giving children the desire of their little hearts until after they have vocalized. In this way, children learn in infancy that ``talking`` is powerful. It gives them what they want.

10. WHERE YOU LEAD I WILL FOLLOW
Parents should talk about what the child’s attention is focused on, rather than what interests the child